Manchester United have been given a raving review by Jack Grealish
Tom Sunderland Sports Writer 09:31, 13 Oct 2025
If Manchester United need further encouragement to pursue Adam Wharton next summer, Jack Grealish has provided it. The Everton winger, on loan from Manchester City, heaped praise on the Crystal Palace midfielder following their recent encounter.
Ruben Amorim is anticipated to overhaul his midfield options next summer, with Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo potentially departing. The Daily Star has suggested a £60million bid for Wharton is being considered after Amorim developed an interest in the England international.
Wharton, 21, joined the Eagles from Blackburn in February 2024 for an initial £18million fee. The youngster has swiftly established himself as a key figure at Selhurst Park, contributing to the club's FA Cup triumph and securing a European return earlier this year.
Despite being unable to prevent a 2-1 defeat at Everton before the international break, he delivered an impressive display. That was certainly the view of opponent and match-winner Grealish, who offered a ringing endorsement to any interested parties, including United.
Without prompt, the Toffees talisman poured praise on his opponent as he told Sky Sports: "Adam Wharton today...I can see the Man of the Match award there. I think that's coming to me. But it should have gone to Adam Wharton, because in my opinion he was the best player on the pitch."
Following substantial investment in bolstering their attacking options, United's next priority lies in midfield. Casemiro's £300,000-per-week deal is set to run until 2026 and it's believed the Red Devils will not activate their clause to extend his contract by a further 12 months.
Mainoo stands as one of the brightest talents to graduate from the United academy in recent memory. Yet Amorim has shown hesitation in deploying the 20-year-old, who remains without a Premier League start this season.
Manuel Ugarte has similarly seen limited action despite his prior connection with Amorim during their time together at Sporting CP. Mason Mount has renewed his status at Old Trafford recently, though persistent fitness problems have plagued his time in Manchester.
Wharton found himself excluded from Thomas Tuchel's most recent England selection for matches against Wales and Latvia. However, displaying maturity that mirrors his exceptional performances, the midfielder offered a composed reaction when questioned about his omission.
"He just gave me a message saying I'm playing well, I'm close and I deserve to be there but he's going to stick with the same team," he told said regarding his squad absence and any communication from Tuchel.
"That's football, I'm not too fussed about that. I can take the time off, go see my grandparents, and it's not the end of the world as there's another camp next month. My focus is on Palace, and if that goes well then England is just a bonus."
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